Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego National Park

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, located in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. It is the capital of the province and an important naval base. Its location on the bay of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel is both strategic and picturesque, as there is always an atmosphere filled with adventure and new beginnings.

The city serves as a gateway to Antarctica, from where expedition ships embark on their journeys. Even for those not interested in traveling to the icy world, there are many opportunities to explore Tierra del Fuego. We count ourselves among those, as we felt like the only ones not boarding a ship to Antarctica (but rather taking a ship around Cape Horn to Punta Arenas).

The Tierra del Fuego National Park is a hiker's paradise, and a boat tour on the Beagle Channel gives you the chance to observe a variety of wildlife, from sea lions to various bird species (and penguins). This boat tour can be combined as a day trip with a visit to the oldest ranch in Tierra del Fuego, Estancia Harberton.

In Ushuaia, you can visit the sights, dive into the history of sailors and explorers, stroll along the harbor promenade, get a stamp in your passport at the southernmost post office in the world, or dream of your adventures in Antarctica.

Is Ushuaia now the end or the beginning of the world? Regardless, deep fjords, snow-capped mountains, and glaciers await you!

Unfortunately, we were there at the wrong time of year for the following activities in Ushuaia. Skiing is definitely on the list, as our Chilean and Argentine friends are big fans of the ski slopes in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia.

The name Ushuaia translates to "bay that looks to the east". The location of Argentina's southernmost city is impressive: in the background, snow-capped mountains rise, while in front, the azure waters of the Beagle Channel shine. In the harbor, seagulls scream, constantly circling the fishing boats, and on beautiful days, the colorful wooden cottages gleam in the sun. After a rain shower, a rainbow appears, adding to the charm of Ushuaia. The city is growing rapidly, as adventurous expeditions are becoming increasingly popular.

Ushuaia offers a limited number of attractions. The landscape of Tierra del Fuego is unique and attracts many tourists. The city serves as a starting point for excursions and tours in the area. Also because Ushuaia is the starting point for many journeys to Antarctica and many expedition ships are docked in the harbor, the fascination is particularly strong.

Ushuaia is a city with a mix of colorful wooden houses and modern buildings. Although there are only a limited number of attractions, the city still has a lot to offer. These include the Museo del Fin del Mundo, which explores the nature, culture, and history of Tierra del Fuego, the Museo Maritimo, as well as the Plaza Islas Malvinas, which houses the memorial to the Falklands War (Islas Malvinas).

Here we have listed the top tourist attractions in Ushuaia:

Unfortunately, we only have this one day, which we use to visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park and the "attraction", the southernmost post office in the world.

During your visit to Ushuaia, a detour to the magnificent Tierra del Fuego National Park should be on your to-do list. The park is easily reachable by shuttle bus from the city center and offers many opportunities to explore it on your own. An unforgettable experience is a coastal hike along the Senda Costera (8 km) along the Beagle Channel, with its breathtaking scenery.

At the start of it lies the southernmost post office in the world. Of course, we make sure to get a stamp in our passports for a small fee.

During the hike, we pass many bays and get numerous opportunities to catch glimpses of the glaciers in the distance through the dense forest.

We visit the end of Route 3 - the end of the last paved road in the world. It was a surprisingly beautiful day for me. I hadn't imagined this little spot to be so lovely.

You can take the shuttle bus, which runs daily between 9 AM and 7 PM to the park. There are several stops where you can get on and off. We first got off at the end of Ruta 3.

The Museo del Fin del Mundo in Ushuaia is a must for anyone wanting to learn more about the history and charm of the city's architectural heritage. The museum is located in the historic center of Ushuaia and provides insights into the settlement of the country by European seafarers, as well as the culture of the indigenous people.

It includes an exhibition about whaling, a gallery of photographic displays, and a collection of stuffed animals. Additionally, various art exhibitions are also shown. Visitors can learn much more about the ecosystem of Tierra del Fuego. The museum is open year-round and regularly hosts workshops and activities for its visitors.

It doesn't always have to be Antarctica. We boarded the Ventus Australis for five days and explored the fjords and glaciers of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. For many, the highlight is a possible landing at the legendary Cape Horn. You can't get here by car, but rather with one of two expedition ships from the only provider, Australis (View offers here).

What we experienced here were not only breathtaking landscapes and the calm sea, but also strong winds and rough seas. The currents are particularly treacherous around Cape Horn, and that's exactly what makes this expedition cruise so special.

All info and tips for the expedition cruise in Patagonia can be read here.

What many visitors to Ushuaia do not know: At the tourist information center, you can get a free penguin stamp in your passport.

Important note:

Make sure you have enough free pages left. For me, it was a stroke of luck that I could leave. Because my passport was packed, after the trip, I had to apply for a new passport.

Also, you should know that you can have extreme problems when entering countries like Japan if you have these "fun stamps" in your passport. Susi from Black Dots White Spots had a bit of trouble and almost couldn't enter Japan.

Just to clarify: We did not take this tour, as we visited the penguins on our expedition trip from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas on Isla de Magdalena.

If you are not in Punta Arenas, you should visit the cute but stinky animals here. An unforgettable experience is this boat ride from Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel to observe South American sea lions on Isla de los Lobos, penguins, and a variety of bird species.

During the tour, we also stop at the red and white striped Faro Les Eclaireurs lighthouse. The blue-eyed cormorant (Antarctic cormorant) and Rock cormorant can often be seen here. Then you pass Puerto Williams, the southernmost town in the world. After that, there is only Cape Horn left.

Next, you will reach Isla Martillo, where you'll see the penguins. They will already be swimming around you in the water. We saw everything on the trip with the excursion ship on the way to Cape Horn.

Seeing this wonderful nature from the water is also highly recommended.

If you would like to visit the oldest ranch in Tierra del Fuego, Estancia Harberton, you can do so as part of this tour. It is ideally located near the penguin island. If you don't feel like it, you can also return directly by boat to Ushuaia. We just passed the ranch, as our goal was the fjords of Patagonia and Cape Horn.

You can conveniently book the tour via Get Your Guide if you have internet access.

I recommend staying at least 3 to 4 days in Ushuaia. If you plan excursions or cool hikes and highlights outside the city during the day, this duration is optimal. Unfortunately, we only had one day and would have liked to stay longer. Since the pandemic, a trip to Antarctica from Ushuaia has been booked, and I will be returning soon.

During our trip, it was hard to find out online which bus companies operate from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia (regularly). At the tourist information, we received information and also the place where we could book our tickets. The distance from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia is 629 km, there are no flights. Since we are taking the boat back to Punta Arenas from Ushuaia, and from there flying home via Santiago de Chile, we did not rent a car from Punta Arenas anymore.

We traveled with Buses Barria from the bus station to Ushuaia. The buses take about 12 hours (including the ferry that connects Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego). Nowadays, there is even a website where you can book your ticket directly. The ticket cost 45,000 Chilean Pesos (about $50).

From El Calafate, it is almost worth flying, as the distance is extremely far at 914 km.

In Ushuaia, the tourist center of Tierra del Fuego, there are numerous accommodations such as hostels, bed & breakfasts, apartments, or hotels. Based on our own experience, we recommend booking well in advance. Especially since during the peak travel season for Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, many Antarctic tourists often book their accommodation long in advance, and the good and affordable options are often already booked out.

We were lucky to stay at the Hostería Patagonia Jarke.

View on booking.com

Further tips from my friend Micha, who has worked as a researcher and guide on Antarctic tours with Oceandwie Expeditions. He has been to the following hotels multiple times and shares the following experiences:

The rooms are very basic and nothing special. But they are clean, centrally located, and the courtyard is really nice for sitting away from the hustle and bustle to avoid being photographed by 500 Chinese cruise passengers.

Price-wise, it is more in the lower third. The internet is very slow, and the service is just as expected. But I like being there because it is quiet and still in the city center. View Hostería on booking.com.

Unspectacular, but good standard and a great view from the rooftop restaurant. The Alto Andino is one of the more modern hotels in Ushuaia. View accommodation on booking.com.

Prime location, great cuisine, and I treat myself to this at the end of the long Antarctic season (with spa). View Arakur Resort on booking.com.

Alternative in the upper price segment:

Expensive and fancy, one of the newer hotels in Ushuaia. Also a great location on the main street. View Lennox on booking.com.

Very outdated, terrible service, and the decor is from the 60s. It was once the IT hotel for old communists and other dreadful people, and it looks just like that. Don't be fooled by the good reviews. I have the comparison of multiple years of Antarctic experience from Ushuaia.

LOOKING FOR A HOTEL?

For searching for a good hotel, we recommend the platform Booking.com. We always book our accommodations on this platform or directly through American Express, as we receive additional discounts with the American Express Platinum credit card (view details, only worthwhile for frequent travelers).

Actually, we had breakfast included in our accommodation. Still, we spent a long time at Café Tante Sara. This is where most cruise passengers gather, regardless of whether they are heading through the Patagonian fjords via Cape Horn or to Antarctica.

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